EarthCraft standards and options are factored into every aspect of home building – site planning, building orientation, low-impact construction techniques and materials, energy efficiency – for a constant effort to lower the environmental impact of building an EarthCraft home and lower the energy costs and water usage for its future occupants. … … After a long conversation yesterday with an attorney, about real estate blogs and the perception by the Vir ginia Real Estate Board that any writing that could “induce business” is considered “advertising” … here is my disclosure .
Browsing Category Green
Great story on Belvedere in Charlottesville
This is a significant story in this week’s C-Ville not only because it features my clients , ( their blog about Belvedere is here ) but it highlights one of the (potentially) best developments (that happens to be green) in the Charlottesville area. Five years ago—heck, two years ago—if you were searching for an architect to design your sustainable house, a builder to put it together, or a store to supply its fixtures and finishes, you would have had far fewer choices than in 2008.
Why Belvedere?
I’m going to keep highlighting Kate’s blog about the Belvedere development as long as she keeps writing as well as she does.If I understand it correctly, Belvedere is about community, it is about people, children, nature, healthy living. There is a sound philosophy of Health and Connection to the community design: greenspaces designed to encourage children’s play, trails to run and walk on, an organic garden for vegetables and delivery of other specialties, and even this soccer facility. Part of the Belvedere ethos and core values is the inclusion of the non-human world as part of the community…. I have never heard of a development firm purporting to design a place for humans and plants and animals, too.Belvedere is one of the places where I have represented Buyers that I feel that by doing so, I am contributing positively to the area in which I live.
Turn out the lights tonight
Google’s doing it, so it must be ok.Turn off your lights at 8pm EDT – It’s symbolic and probably won’t really save much energy, but right now, every nickel counts (and it’s probably not too bad for the environment). Step outside, look at the starts and enjoy a beverage.
Building a home in Belvedere
But I am convinced of their integrity and am joining them to make their dream (and mine) come true.I’ve written before that Belvedere is one of the only new developments in the region about which I am excited by what they are doing…. And a lot of great stuff that you can walk to….EarthCraft certified homes, LEED certified buildings, A walkable neighborhood…. It’s a wonderful thing to be a part of.(and I expect they will, with input from great clients such as mine) – it should be a great place to live.More on Belvedere here. Developments couldn’t pay for better marketing and exposure than what they are getting from Home at Belvedere.Disclosure – the author of the blog is a client of mine, and I am invested in their having a great experience today, tomorrow and for their time in the Charlottesville area; I am truly grateful for all that I have learned from them so far.
Buy Local, save money (and energy)
The Charlottesville area offers quite a few options for buying local, including the City Market; who knew they consumed as much energy as 18 homes? People will buy local when it makes economic sense – and right now, buying local makes a lot of sense. Take a moment and look around for local options.The HooK has a critical analysis of the above-referenced Daily Progress article. This is the CSA we just joined, Regarding the “60 miles” number – I noticed last week that the local Chipotle is getting their pork from Polyface Farms – “60 miles from farm to fork.”
Seriously, green homes make sense
Sent to me by a client, this article is outstanding on a number of levels:”I’ve lived through seven cycles in the housing industry, and this is one of the worst…. They don’t want the house they went into the cycle with,” said Charles Shinn, a Littleton, Colo., home-building consultant.This is what I am telling my clients – buy a better house now…. You will thank yourself in five years when you’re either a) still living in the house and your house is more comparable to the inevitable competing new construction or b) you’re still paying lower utility bills and c) your house is just more comfortable.I tell ya, this “green home” thing might catch on – and it’s not necessarily because people care about the environment or global warming or natural resources – it’s because buying a smarter home makes sense. Despite what the WSJ says, I don’t advise clients to “go green to get your cash” – I do it because it’s a common sense approach to living.As an aside, I’d love to see our MLS have an option to search for green homes.